Mel Yuan for Brunswick

Tara has written to me: I live in Brunswick East and will be voting in the South Ward council elections. I would like to know whether reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples is a priority for you, and if so, how you will advance reconciliation in our community?

Council has a Reconciliation Action Plan 2014 including the establishment of an Advisory Committee.

I would be interested to find out more about the progress of the RAP and advice from the Advisory Committee.

Reconciliation is an area where Council needs to harness the knowledge, experience, and commitment of the local community to drive this agenda forward.

It’s no good to have Council policies that are outdated, unmanaged and perform no useful function. We must act on what we say we will do, and when this is done, move on to developing the new set of actions.

I will listen to the community about ways to best promote reconciliation and work to deliver on the promise of “Capitalise on the RAP Program to create a wider range of opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.” (Reconciliation Australia)